Prior to 2000, Romania had an array of scouting units and airborne special operations battalions, as well as a Marine battalion and combat diver unit. In 2000, some of the airborne special operations battalions became parachute battalions, while others were disbanded. The 404th Scouting Battalion, always an elite unit, became the HumInt Battalion, which has been tasked with an array of clandestine missions, and the Marine Battalion continued as an elite unit. In October 2005, the Romanian Special Operations Command was formed consisting of a Special Forces Battalion, the DIR (Rapid Intervention Detachment) counterterrorist unit, and a Psy Ops unit. The Romanian Special Operations Command is considered a fourth branch of the Romanian armed forces along with the Air Force, Army and Navy.

Elite Eagles

The 1st Special Forces Battalion “Vulturii” (Eagles) has an authorized strength of 500 troops. Operators have trained with the U.S. Special Forces in the U.S. and with U.S. advisors in Romania. Other units that have assisted with training include the British SAS, Israeli special operations units, and Turkish Special Forces. Members of Romanian Special Forces have graduated from U.S. airborne, Special Forces, Marine Recon, Ranger, and, reportedly, Delta (CAG) and SAS selection. As with the U.S. Special Forces and British SAS, specialist mountain and diving units are incorporated into the 1st SF Battalion.

Romania has a long tradition of elite mountain troops and the mountain warfare training is considered very good. Headquarters for the unit is at Targu Mures. One advantage of this location for a special operations unit in which language capability is important is that Targu Mures is a trilingual town where German, Romanian, and Hungarian are spoken. Targu Mures is located in Transylvania.